Wednesday, April 6, 2011

'Extremely conservative' planning commissioner appointed for Spokane Valley City Council

When Rose Dempsey resigned in frustration from the Spokane Valley city
council, she expected the majority of the city council to replace her with
someone like, well, the majority of the city council.

With Arne Woodard, consider her expectations fulfilled.

Like councilman Dean Grafos and former councilman Bob McCaslin, Arne Woodward
is experienced in real estate. He's the president of Woodard Properties and
Investments.

But perhaps more importantly, Woodard was one of only two planning
commissioners (of seven) to vote forthe Spokane Valley City
Council's effort to dismantle the Sprague Appleway Revitalization Plan that
specifically zoned parts of the valley in an attempt to improve the economy and
drive businesses to a denser city center.

"It was great for San Francisco, but not for Spokane Valley," Woodard says.
"I wanted to get rid of it. Waaay too burdensome in regulation."

A few other tidbits to illuminate the sort of council member Woodard might
be:

• Woodard was also one of only two planning commissioners to support
Catholic Charities' rezoning proposal near St. John Vianney church's parking
lot. The neighborhood — worried about traffic, parking, and real estate values — opposed the rezoning.

• Bill Gothmann, the one remaining council member against the destruction of
SARP, voted against Woodard's election. Instead, Gothmann voted for Ben Wick, an
applicant who believed SARP should be modified, instead of eliminated
completely.

• Woodard identifies himself as "extremely conservative… and proud of it
too." He says his wife goes further, calling him a radical conservative. Today,
he says there isn't a true conservative on the national scene. They're too
willing to compromise. "They're just as willing to pass unemployment
[benefits] and social programs [as Democrats.]"

Safety nets are needed, he says, but the number of people on food stamps is
"ridiculous."

The role of government? "Stay out of people's lives so they can make things
happen," Woodard says. It's been proved time and time again, he says, that if
you reduce regulation and keep taxes to a minimum, businesses will thrive.

• "I'm in the wrong generation," says Woodard. "I should have been a settler.
I would have come West." He says his values are about family, country, and God — and not necessarily in that order.

• Woodard knows the Valley well. After all, he's lived in the Valley his
entire life and raised seven kids there, and they all went to Valley schools.

• Woodard gave the Valley City Council a "B" average for their performance
last year. He believes the Valley needs to simplify its permit codes to make it
easier for businesses, reduce regulations, and continue to reduce property taxes.

• Woodard will have to run for office this November is he wants to keep this job. No word yet who plans to run against him.